that, after a pleasant evening’s play, and with both their score cards looking a mess, they would call it a night. Leonard popped his head into the sitting room to say goodbye. Helen had finished the jigsaw—Monet’s Lilies, a painting Leonard had written about in the World of Art encyclopaedia— and was on the phone to Hungry Paul’s sister Grace, discussing wedding DJs. Peter, with saintly patience, had the TV on pause again and said goodbye with a thumbs-up. Hungry Paul saw Leonard off at the door. ‘G’night then,’ said Leonard. ‘G’night Leonard,’ said Hungry Paul, closing his judo bathrobe at the throat to keep his chest from getting a chill. Without thinking, they both looked up at the inky universe they had just been talking about, as the big torchlight moon shone down on the snails criss-crossing the driveway. Leonard stepped over them and made his way home, carrying with him the things he had said over the course of the evening; things he hardly knew he knew.
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– Leonard and Hungry Paul by Ronan Hession –